Last updated: June 2026
The sales and purchase agreement is the binding contract that protects your money. It should set out the parties and exact property, the price and currency, a payment schedule (tied to construction for off-plan), a completion date with remedies if it slips, the specifications, and default provisions. Have a lawyer review it before signing; anything promised but not written into it does not really exist. This is general information, not legal advice.
The agreement is where a purchase is won or lost. A strong one protects you; a vague one leaves you exposed. This guide sets out what it should contain and what to watch for, especially off-plan. It sits within our off-plan due-diligence checklist.
What the agreement is
The sales and purchase agreement is the binding contract between you and the seller. It defines the price, the payment schedule, the completion date, the specifications and the remedies if either side defaults. In short, it is the document you can actually enforce, which is why it matters more than any brochure or conversation.
Treat it as the single source of truth for the deal. If something is important to you, it belongs in the agreement, not in an email or a verbal assurance.
What it must contain
At minimum the agreement should cover the parties and the precise property, the price and currency, a payment schedule, a completion date, the specifications, and default and delay provisions. Each clause does a job, and a gap in any of them is a gap in your protection.
| Clause | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Parties and property | Identifies seller, buyer and the exact unit | Names match the title; the unit is precisely described |
| Price and currency | Sets the price and the currency | Matches what was agreed; USD where the unit is dollar-priced |
| Payment schedule | Sets when each payment is due | Tranches tied to construction for off-plan; into escrow |
| Completion date | When the unit is handed over | A real date, with remedies if it slips |
| Specifications | What you are actually getting | Finishes, fixtures and inclusions are listed |
| Default and delay | What happens if either side fails | Clear remedies for late completion or non-payment |
Check the names against the title and the property description against what you are buying. For a development, the title should already be verified at the Lands Commission, as covered in verifying a land title.
The off-plan clauses that matter
For off-plan, three terms carry the most weight: the completion date and what happens if it slips, the specification of finishes and inclusions, and a payment schedule tied to construction milestones rather than the calendar. These protect you when you are paying for something not yet built.
A payment schedule linked to construction means you pay against visible progress, which is the core protection in an off-plan deal. We cover it in milestone payment plans for off-plan in Accra.
A clear contract, properly drafted
Imaani sells against clear agreements with defined completion dates and staged payments, backed by a 100% on-time delivery record. Ask us to walk you through the terms on a unit.
View available apartmentsWhy a lawyer must review it
A lawyer checks that the names match the title, the terms reflect what was agreed, the completion date carries remedies, and no clause leaves you exposed. They also confirm that what you were promised is actually written in. This review is not optional; it is the difference between a contract you can enforce and one you cannot.
The cost of a legal review is tiny against the price of the property, and it is the cheapest insurance in the whole transaction. Never sign an agreement you have not had a lawyer read.
Signing from abroad
You can sign remotely. Your lawyer signs on your behalf under a power of attorney, which must be notarised at home and then legalised at a Ghanaian mission, because Ghana is not in the Hague Apostille Convention. That lets you complete the agreement without travelling to Ghana.
Set the power of attorney up early so it is ready when the agreement is, as explained in the power of attorney guide.
About Imaani Homes
Imaani Homes is an Accra-based luxury real estate developer, established in 2019, building investment-grade apartments in Ghana’s most prestigious addresses. Across four developments we have delivered every project on time, with two fully sold out: JAK Royale, our debut development, and The Ivy. Alexis Residence in Tesano is over 90% sold, and our flagship Regalia, in the Airport Residential Area, is open for reservations. Our standard is simple: the right property, in the right address, delivered exactly as promised.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sales and purchase agreement?
It is the binding contract between buyer and seller that sets out the price, the payment schedule, the completion date, the specifications and the remedies if either side defaults. It is where your protections live, so it should be reviewed by a lawyer before you sign.
What should the agreement contain?
At minimum: the parties and the precise property, the price and currency, a payment schedule, a completion date, the specifications, and default and delay provisions. For off-plan, the payment schedule should tie tranches to construction milestones rather than the calendar.
Why does a lawyer need to review it?
Because the agreement defines what you can enforce. A lawyer checks that the names match the title, the terms reflect what was agreed, the completion date carries remedies if it slips, and there are no clauses that leave you exposed. Anything promised verbally but absent from the agreement does not really exist.
What are the off-plan clauses to watch?
The completion date and what happens if it is missed, the specification of finishes and inclusions, and a payment schedule tied to construction stages. These are the terms that protect you when you are paying for something not yet built.
Can I sign the agreement from abroad?
Yes. Your lawyer can sign on your behalf under a power of attorney, which must be notarised at home and legalised at a Ghanaian mission because Ghana is not in the Hague Apostille Convention. That lets you complete without travelling.
Want your agreement checked?
Send us the development you are buying into and we will point you to the agreement terms your lawyer should focus on before you sign.
Talk to our teamImportant notice. The figures in this article, including yields, prices, costs, tax rates, and timelines, are indicative estimates based on current market conditions and public sources, and are provided for general information only. They are not guarantees, forecasts, or financial, legal, or tax advice. Actual figures vary with circumstances and change over time. Before making any decision, seek independent professional advice. All purchases are governed solely by the terms of the relevant Sales and Purchase Agreement.